Seam presser

ABSTRACT

A simple and compact garment seam pressing apparatus which is used in conjunction with a conventional sewing machine. A pressing head and a roller, one being mounted for pivotal motion with respect to the other, mate and cooperate so as to press a seam after it is sewn. The presser may be manufactured for attachment to and detachment from an existing sewing machine, or constructed integrally within an otherwise conventional sewing machine. The roller may be motor driven and the pressing surface may be electrically heated. The placement of the invention at the sewing machine allows the user to press a seam without leaving the sewing machine. The body of the sewing machine is used to shield the user from inadvertent contact with the pressing head, thereby eliminating the danger of burns.

nited States Patent [1 1 Wren [111 3,742,882 [451 July 3, 1973 I SEAM PRESSER [22] Filed: July 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 269,647

[52] US. Cl 112/217, 38/60, 38/100 2,955,554 10/1960 Harris.... 112/217 3,587,496 6/1971 Timby 112/217 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,138,996 10/1962 Germany 112/217 Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder Attorney-Stephen S. Townsend et al.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A simple and compact garment seam pressing apparatus which is used in conjunction with a conventional sewing machine. A pressing head and a roller, one being mounted for pivotal motion with respect to the other, mate and cooperate so as to press a seam after it is sewn. The presser may be manufactured for attachment to and detachment from an existing sewing machine, or constructed integrally within an otherwise conventional sewing machine. The roller may be motor driven and the pressing surface may be electrically heated. The placement of the invention at the sewing machine allows the user to press a seam without leaving the sewing machine. The body of the sewing machine is used to shield the user from inadvertent contact with the pressing head, thereby eliminating the danger of burns.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SEAM PRESSER The present invention relates to a garment seam pressing apparatus which is used in conjunction with a conventional sewing machine.

More particularly, the invention is directed to a seam presser of simple and compact design which is easily detachable from the associated sewing machine. Alternatively, the seam "presser may be constructed integrally with the sewing machine during its manufacture.

When sewing, it is frequently necessary to press seams flat after they are formed. Since thepresent invention is associated with the sewing machine, the operator need not leave the machine to press seams, thereby effecting a considerable saving of time and energy over conventional seam pressers which are typically quite large and unwieldy.

Two features of the pressing surface used provide for efficient pressing. The well-known fact that fabric can be pressed more easily by utilizing heat is employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a heated pressing head having a pressing surface which is cylindrically concave so as to conform to the mating roller. This assuresthat heat and pressure are applied to the fabric over a larger heat transfer area than with conventional double roller mangles.

The operator of the sewing machine is shielded from the hazard presented by the heated pressing surface by placement of the seam pressersuch that the :pressing head is swung'to a position behind the sewing machine body when the seam presser is not in use.

The present invention can be constructed in several different configurations. In one of the device can be clamped or otherwise fixedly attached to the tableor horizontal surface or base of an existing sewing machine. The means of attachmentis conventional and optionally allows the device to be removed from the machine and used for small pressing tasks, either handheld or attached to some support, e-.g., a wall, table, etc. The device also can be incorporated into a sewing machine as an integral component during its manufacture.

The simplicity of design inherent in the present invention provides significant cost savings in manufacture as compared with existing seam pressers. Further, it should require relatively little maintenanceand can be easily removed fromthe machine for repair. These features, combined with the compactness of the device, make it especially useful to the individual homemaker who sews, although the device also can be used incommercial applications.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent after reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of oneembodiment of the seam presser of the present invention showing the associated sewing machine inphantom with the device in its standby or inoperative position;

FIG. 1a shows the device of FIG. 1 in its operating mode;

FIG. 2 is an exterior view of another embodiment of the seam presser of the present invention showing the device constructed integrallywith the sewing machine.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the seam presser is generally shown at attached to a conventional sewing machine. The stationary arm 12 is shown clamped securely by suitable and convenient means 14 to the working surface 16a of the sewing machine 16, on the side furthest removed from the normal position of the operator. At one extremity of the stationary arm 12 is disposed a roller 18 fabricated of a suitable material such as metal. The surface of the roller 18 may be knurled or otherwise textured so as to provide a tractive grip on the fabric to be pressed. The roller is rotatably mounted on its shaft 20. Shaft 21) may be driven by a suitably placed conventional motor 22 which is energized by a switch 24. Switch 24 can be either toggle type or auto micro-switch.

Atthe other extremity of the stationary arm 12 is a pivot hinge 26, supporting the movable arm 28. This pivoting arm 28 is shown in FIG. 1 in its vertical position, corresponding to the standby mode of the device. At the extremity of the pivoting arm 23 is disposed the pressing head 30. Pressing surface 30a, comprises a cylindrically concave surface formed on the pressing head and which contacts and conforms to roller 18. Head 30 may be heated by a conventional heating element 32 contained witin the pressing head 30. The temperature of said heating element 32 may be controlled by means of a switch and/or a continuously or step-wise variable thermostatic control.

The entire device is positioned on the sewing machine in such a way that the pivoting arm, when in its vertical standby configuration, is directly behind the vertical member of the sewing machine 16b, as viewed from the normal operators position. By means of this design, the operator is shielded from contact with the heated pressing surface 31] by vertical member of the "sewing machine 16b.

FIG. 1a shows the device in its operating configurationlThepivoting arm 28 is now in its horizontal position. Theconcave pressing surface 30a mates with and presses upon the roller 18 capturing seam 34 therebe- .tween. Suitable pressure can be applied by hand, provided by the weight of the pivotingarm, supplied by springs, or by any other convenient means.

The placement of the pivot 26and the transverse dimension of the pivoting and stationary arms 28 and 12 are governed by the requirement that there must be .sufiicient clearance between the arms (e.g., a FIG.

pivoting arm 28 from its vertical standby position to its horizontal operating position and actuates the roller drive mechanism if provided. He then pulls the seam between the roller 19 and the pressing surface 30a. The optional motor 22 can be used to move the fabric .through the device in a suitable direction by appropriately rotating roller 18.

FIG. '2 is an exterior view of a sewing machine with the seam presser of the present invention incorporated therein. All elements of the device are numbered as in FIGS. 1 and 1a with a prime notation added. The stationary arm is not present in this embodiment since its rolemay be performed by the upper surface of the sewing machine base 16a. The pivot 2% is supported in a pivot support 36 which is attached to the upper side of the sewing machine base. The roller 30 is again supported by a shaft, which may be driven by a motor placed suitably. Neithershaft nor motor is shown in FIG. 2. The roller may be adjustably positioned so that it projects a suitable distance above the sewing machine base. All other aspects and features of this embodiment are identical to those of the first embodiment.

It will be apparent that various modifications of the above structures can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the basic operating principles of the invention are equally applicable to the embodiment wherein the positions of the roller and the pressing head are interchanged.

What is claimed is:

1. A seam presser for use in conjunction with a conventional sewing machine, comprising:

a. an elongate stationary arm supported by the housing of said sewing machine;

b. a roller element rotatably mounted to said stationary arm at one end thereof, such that the axis of rotation of said roller is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stationary arm;

c. a pivot means affixed to the end of the stationary arm opposite said roller;

d. an elongate movable arm connected to said stationary arm by said pivot means; and,

e. a pressing head, affixed to the end of said movable arm opposite to said pivot means, said head having a cylindrically concave pressing surface disposed so as to mate and cooperate with said roller when said movable arm is pivoted toward said roller.

2. A seam presser as recited in claim 1 further comprising a detachable connector means for rigidly affixing said stationary arm to said sewing machine.

3. A seam presser as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a motor operably connected to said roller so as tocause said roller to rotate; and, a control means electrically interconnected to said motor for regulating the motion of said motor.

4. A seam presser as recited in claim 1 further comprising: an electrical heating element mounted in thermal contact with said pressing head; and, a control means electrically interconnected with said heating element for regulating the temperature thereof.

5. A seam presser as recited in claim 4 wherein said control means comprises a thermostatic control.

6. In a sewing machine, the improvement comprising an integrally constructed seam presser including-:

a. a roller element rotatably affixed to said sewing machine housing;

b. a pivot means affixed to the housing of said sewing machine; I

c. an elongate movable arm affixed to said pivot means; and,

d. a pressing head, affixed to the end of said movable arm opposite to said pivot means, said head having a cylindrically concave pressing surface disposed so as to mate and cooperate with said roller when said movable arm is pivoted toward said roller.

7. A seam presser as recited in claim 6 further comprising: a motor operably connected to said roller so as to cause said roller to rotate; and, a control means electrically interconnected to said motor for regulating the motion of said motor.

8. A seam presser as recited in claim 6 further comprising: an electrical heating element mounted in thermal contact with said pressing head; and, a control means electrically interconnected with said heating element for regulating the temperature thereof.

9. A seam presser as recited in claim 8 wherein said control means comprises a thermostatic control.

t I t i i 

1. A seam presser for use in conjunction with a conventional sewing machine, comprising: a. an elongate stationary arm supported by the housing of said sewing machine; b. a roller element rotatably mounted to said stationary arm at one end thereof, such that the axis of rotation of said roller is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stationary arm; c. a pivot means affixed to the end of the stationary arm opposite said roller; d. an elongate movable arm connected to said stationary arm by said pivot means; and, e. a pressing head, affixed to the end of said movable arm opposite to said pivot means, said head having a cylindrically concave pressing surface disposed so as to mate and cooperate with said roller when said movable arm is pivoted toward said roller.
 2. A seam presser as recited in claim 1 further comprising a detachable connector means for rigidly affixing said stationary arm to said sewing machine.
 3. A seam presser as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a motor operably connected to said roller so as to cause said roller to rotate; and, a control means electrically interconnected to said motor for regulating the motion of said motor.
 4. A seam presser as recited in claim 1 further comprising: an electrical heating element mounted in thermal contact with said pressing head; and, a control means electrically interconnected with said heating element for regulating the temperature thereof.
 5. A seam presser as recited in claim 4 wherein said control means comprises a thermostatic control.
 6. In a sewing machine, the improvement comprising an integrally constructed seam presser including: a. a roller element rotatably affixed to said sewing machine housing; b. a pivot means affixed to the housing of said sewing machine; c. an elongate movable arm affixed to said pivot means; and, d. a pressing head, affixed to the end of said movable arm opposite to said pivot means, said head having a cylindrically concave pressing surface disposed so as to mate and cooperate with said roller when said movable arm is pivoted toward said roller.
 7. A seam presser as recited in claim 6 further comprising: a motor operably connected to said roller so as to cause said roller to rotate; and, a control means electrically interconnected to said motor for regulating the motion of said motor.
 8. A seam presser as recited in claim 6 further comprising: an electrical heating element mounted in thermal contact with said pressing head; and, a control means electrically interconnected with said heating element for regulating the temperature thereof.
 9. A seam presser as recited in claim 8 wherein said control means comprises a thermostatic control. 